Innovation Specialist

Summary

VSP Vision is a vision care company focused on improving how eye care and eyewear are delivered. The Innovation Specialist supports innovation projects and programs by evaluating technologies and business models, conducting research and experimentation, developing project ideas, and collaborating with internal and external partners under the guidance of senior team members.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and execution of projects exploring and scaling concepts related to assigned domain areas
• Contribute to technology evaluation, business model innovation, prototyping, and proof-of-concept activities
• Monitor assigned domain area(s) and build an understanding of their potential, maturity, and impact to our business
• Build on existing experience to quickly understand new technology, business models, markets, consumer trends, etc needed to develop awareness of adjacent areas
• Apply concept testing and validation, user research, or other related experimentation methodologies under the guidance of senior team members
• Support product or business model evaluation using established scorecards and criteria
• Support the identification and definition of problems and opportunity areas, development of hypotheses, and contribute to testing and validation of assumptions
• Develop and pitch new project ideas and opportunities
• Contribute to presentation of project findings to all levels of the enterprise
• Collaborate with internal and external partners that deepen current and future knowledge between the company and emerging markets

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; or equivalent experience
• Minimum 4 years of experience in relevant topics including: Innovation, Emerging Technology, Research & Development, Product Design, or related
• Expertise in a relevant subject matter domain and developing understanding of adjacent areas in healthcare, business models, and technology
• Experience contributing to projects and adapting to changing requirements
• Demonstrates creative problem solving and adaptability
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to contribute to research briefs and presentations (PowerPoint)
• Able to explain technical concepts to non-technical people, including the relevance to their work or business
• Interested in developing and sharing project pitches
• Skilled at providing and receiving thoughtful and constructive feedback
• For roles that are remote (i.e., Work From Home (WFH)) or hybrid (i.e., partial onsite at a VSP location and WFH), must demonstrate a high level of engagement in virtual environments, including maintaining camera presence during meetings to support effective communication and team alignment
• Industry experience in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and technology is preferred but not required
• Experience working in creative cultures in either consulting or large corporate environments is preferred

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; or equivalent experience
• Minimum 4 years of experience in relevant topics including: Innovation, Emerging Technology, Research & Development, Product Design, or related
• Expertise in a relevant subject matter domain and developing understanding of adjacent areas in healthcare, business models, and technology
• Experience contributing to projects and adapting to changing requirements
• Demonstrates creative problem solving and adaptability
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to contribute to research briefs and presentations (PowerPoint)
• Able to explain technical concepts to non-technical people, including the relevance to their work or business
• Interested in developing and sharing project pitches
• Skilled at providing and receiving thoughtful and constructive feedback
• For roles that are remote (i.e., Work From Home (WFH)) or hybrid (i.e., partial onsite at a VSP location and WFH), must demonstrate a high level of engagement in virtual environments, including maintaining camera presence during meetings to support effective communication and team alignment

Nice to Haves

• Industry experience in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and technology is preferred but not required
• Experience working in creative cultures in either consulting or large corporate environments is preferred

Benefits

• Remote work